As he promised, he came every so often to visit. Sometimes he attempted to break the chains but failed. Time and time again he came and played and tried to break the chains with different means. One day, I just told him to give up for nothing worked. That I was grateful enough that he’d come accompany me from time to time. That I was not feeling so lonely anymore with him as my friend. But his eyes told me that he have not given up. He ignored me and kept trying. But, the more he tries, the more frustrated that I’ll become. It pains me to see him trying so hard for my sake, for the sake of one friend. He is too kind, I thought. Too kind that it pains me. So, one day I told him not to come anymore. That I have had enough.

“…Don’t come here anymore,” I said painfully. He staggered at my words.

“Why?! I have not given up yet. I will definitely free you! Don’t say such sad things!” he exclaimed.

“It’s enough already. I am already grateful. I…will no longer open this door. So even if you do come, you won’t see me. So, it will be pointless for you to come,” I replied.

“…Huh?” he looked shocked.

‘It is useless, you can’t grant my wish,” I thought silently although tears were piling up at the bed of my eyes.

“…Goodbye, Shiroki-san,” I finally said. But before I could completely close the sliding door, Shiroki-san stopped it and held me tight in an embrace as he kissed me affectionately. I gasped in surprise. He didn’t stop at just that. He went and strongly gripped both of my wrists and pushed me down as he kept kissing me. His lips are warm. I felt embarrassed but I couldn’t shake him away. He was just too strong. Slowly, he began transforming into a spirit. A nine-tailed fox spirit. He was so white. From the first time I saw him, he have always emitted such a strange presence and finally I know why. He was half human and half spirit.

After some time, our lips finally parted and he gazed at me with strong emotions in his eyes.

“I am sorry. The truth is…, I have always been watching you since a few years back,” Shiroki began.

“Eh?” I was confused yet embarrassed at the same time because of what just happened.

“What… what do you mean?” I asked rather shyly evading direct eye contact with him.

“I am a half human half spirit, but I lived in a temple in the human realm dwelled by many spirits that are my father’s subordinate. I was always warned by father and the other spirits not to wander by myself to the spirit realm as it was dangerous and full of malicious spirits that would harm me…” Shiroki paused as he brought down his head to my neck and closed his eyes in reminisce. I became flustered and began to panic.

“Uh…, Shiroki-san?” I called.

“My mother was human, but she died soon after giving me birth. Sometimes I blamed myself for her death,” Shiroki continued.

“Surely that’s not…,” I tried to comfort him but he said,

“Just listen.” I nodded and kept quiet.

“Unable to hold back my curiosity, I ventured to the spirit realm by myself. I met some malicious spirits and barely avoided death. But because of such events as well that I was able to learn to awaken to my spirit form. Finally, I was lost and worn out…,” he paused again, lifted up his head to look at me. His gaze was warm and gentle. I on the other hand was simply struck with realization.

“…that was you?” I asked with trembled voice. Shiroki nodded with a smile plastered on his face seemingly happy that I realized who he was. Back then, I was only 15 years old. My grandfather was still healthy and strong. It was fine for me to walk around outside the palace into the forest around the spirit realm. There wasn’t any spirits that dared to harm me knowing whose daughter and whose granddaughter I was. Also, a guardian was nearby and accompanies me at all times when I go outside. If anything were to happen to me, my father and grandfather would immediately notice due to the trace spell they placed on me then. If I was in danger, they would immediately rush to my side. Back then, I was playing in a river near the palace when I heard sounds of a child weeping. Feeling concerned, I went to the direction of the crying sound and found a lone human child seemingly lost in the spirit realm. I wondered how the child ended up in the spirit realm but did not care to ask. Hiding my spiritual aura in order to not to startle him or scare him due to the fact that I was a spirit, I hurriedly went to his side. The child was vigilant at first, but upon seeing me, I could see that he became relaxed and relieved.

“Are you alright? Are you by yourself?” I asked as gently as possible. The child simply nodded as he wiped his tears sheepishly.

“I see, did you get lost?” I asked again with a reassuring face this time in order to make him feel safe. It was bad if he felt threatened and ran away. I would not be able to guide him back. If he were to stay in the spirit realm then it would be only a matter of time until he’ll become a meal for other spirits. The child nodded again to affirm my suspicions. I smiled and said,

“It will be alright. I’ll guide you back home safe and sound.” With that said, I took him by the hand and lead him to the nearest rift that separated the human realm and the spirit realm. There was a rift in the forest in the area of where I lived. The child held me tight by the hand as if ensuring his safety as well as in order to not get lost again.

With my guardian nearby, I return the child to the human realm. At the rift, I bid farewell to him with a little advice.

“Please take care not to get lost again. Your parents will be very worried about you. Here, take this. It is a protective charm. I made it myself,” I said and I never saw him again after that. Personally, I was glad since it would not be good for a human child to be in the spirit realm where various monsters roam about. Time flows differently in the human world than the spirit world so i did not hope to meet again. However, to think that the day would come where I would see that child again, and that child was no ordinary child. He was half human and half spirit.